To Vote or Not to Vote? That is the Question . . .

To vote or not to vote? That is the question – and apparently it’s posing quite the dilemma for some Christians. And while I was actually going to leave it alone, just this past week I found myself having more than one conversation with frustrated Christians who were going to “send a message” by not voting. However, since the mission here is to examine issues in light of the Cross, it seems I can hardly skip the election. It’s certainly an issue.

So – let’s say you’re one of those frustrated Christians who feel that you don’t really have a choice in this election or even that, given the choices, it would be flat “wrong” to vote. I talked with one friend whom I’ll call “Ivana” (because I don’t have any friends named Ivana and I don’t anticipate any) who said she couldn’t vote for either candidate because “neither one is a Christian.”

The question I asked Ivana is: If you don’t vote, then what message are you sending?

The conversation I had with Ivana – who is, by the way, a very intelligent and professional Christian woman – made me realize that many Christians are having a real moral problem with the concept of voting for someone who might not be a Christian. Is it wrong? Is it right? Or, is it just better left alone?

So let’s examine Ivana’s main objection – that neither candidate is a Christian.

While many people would argue (loudly) that neither President Obama nor Governor Romney is a Christian, let’s not pretend we know the answer to that: we don’t. While we can look at words and actions and draw conclusions, only God knows the heart. However, that’s not even the point. The point is, as Christians, do we only vote when we have the choice of a Christian?

While it’s wonderful when we have the option of a Bible-believing Christian, do we always? Have we always? As I asked my friend, “Is this the first time in an election that you’ve never had the option of voting for a Christian?” She admitted that it was not.

Again, the heart of the matter is: Do we only vote when a Christian is running?

With all due respect, we need to keep in mind that while it’s wonderful to have that option, we’re not voting for a pastor; we’re voting for a president. And however much we might like it to be, the fact is, Christianity is not a prerequisite for the office.

So – what should Christians look for in a candidate (even if someone claims to be a Christian . . . )?

Consideration #1: Character

If we don’t have the option to vote for a Christian as president (and even if we do), we should also be evaluating the character of the candidate we’re considering. For instance, does the candidate exhibit honesty and integrity? And what examples can we point to to prove or disprove this? (As I tell my students, if you can’t prove it, it’s just an opinion.)

Another thing to consider: is he truthful? The debates are a good resource for judging truthfulness because whatever a candidate says at a debate cannot be denied later: it’s a matter of record. And after a debate (for weeks after), there’s this wonderful sport engaged in by the media called “fact-checking.” A candidate can claim anything he says is truth or that anything his opponent says is a lie (and that’s happened) but the media’s fact-checking is a good resource for verification.

Consideration #2: Biblical Principles

Here’s a fact: just the same way some non-Christians “happen” to follow Biblical principles and some Christians do not, the same is true of candidates. Non-Christian candidates can, as a matter of personal conviction, follow Biblical principles – even if they don’t market them as such.

For example, the question of abortion is a Biblical issue. The Bible is clearly and unequivocally pro-life. One of the practices that God warned His people was an “abomination” to Him was the killing of babies and children (Deut. 18:10). Moreover, in the book of Exodus, the law calls for the death of a man who causes the death of an unborn child (21:23). Therefore, a candidate who is pro-life is supportive of Biblical principle; a candidate who is for abortion is against Biblical principle.

A third principle to consider is the question of religious freedom. Evaluate which candidates defend the rights of Americans to practice their faith unimpeded by government regulations. (Disclaimer: This does not mean people may commit felonies such as murder, assault, or arson in support of their “beliefs”.)

Also, consider the Biblical principle of working as a prerequisite for eating. As the Word of God says, “If you don’t work, you don’t eat” (II Thess. 3:10). This is not, of course, meant to condemn anyone who sincerely wants to work and truly cannot find a job. Rather it’s an admonition against programs that foster people to believe that they are entitled not to have to work. Some candidates encourage entitlement programs. (Another disclaimer: This does not include Social Security for retired people since anyone receiving SS retirement benefits has previously paid into SS in order to get those benefits later in life.) Therefore, examine candidates’ views on work: which ones see entitlement programs as temporary seasons of assistance, and which candidates view them as long-term lifestyles?

Finally, we cannot forget the Biblical principle of supporting Israel: the Word clearly warns that those who help and bless Israel will be blessed and those who don’t support Israel will be cursed. (Notice how there is no middle ground there.) Again – actions speak louder than words. Candidates can say they support Israel but their records on the matter will tell the truth.

I won’t get into details here but the past few decades prove that when we have a president who supports Israel, our nation is protected by God, both financially and from disasters of all kinds. When we don’t, the opposite is true. FEMA’s website lists the ten most costly natural disasters in this country and eight of them have happened within 48 hours of our past presidents not standing with Israel on some issue or other. The bottom line is that we simply cannot afford a leader in this country who will not support Israel.

Consideration #3: Can God use a non-Christian?

Does God ever use non-Christians? As mentioned, God knows the heart. When a Roman centurion sent a message to Jesus asking Him to heal his servant, the Jewish men recommending him noted that the Roman man (read “non-Christian”) had paid to build a temple for the Jewish people. Because of his generous and sincere heart, Jesus commended the centurion and granted his request (John 7:1-10). It didn’t matter that the centurion wasn’t Christian or Jewish.

Other examples of God using people who were not yet Christians are Saul, the prosecutor of early Christians, Rahab the harlot, and Matthew the tax collector. All of these people were despised by the Christians and/or Jews of their day because no one could conceive of how God could ever use “sinners” like them. Furthermore, if God waited until we were perfect until He used us, He’d still be waiting. None of us would be doing anything for Him yet.

The point is – don’t not vote.

It’s imperative that we, as the people of God, stand for the principles that the Word of God commands. We need to support candidates who value the principles of the Bible – even if they don’t win – or they may quit running. The truth is, by not voting, we’re essentially saying either that we don’t care or that we’ve given up. And God doesn’t look favorably on either of those excuses.

So vote – perhaps not so much for a man but for the Biblical principles he supports. And may the Lord bless you for caring.

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4 Responses

I come from a Mennonite background and the vote/not vote issue has always resounded among us, from the most conservative groups to the most liberal ones. I’ve always believed strongly in separation of church and state, and have not voted for many years. This year, however, I have been overwhelmingly convicted that I NEED to vote. Neither candidate is perfect, but one certainly represents Christian values much more than the other. The Bible tells us that God will not be mocked. He is a gracious and merciful God, but He doesn’t overlook sin. Something we all need to consider when looking at the state of our country. No, neither candidate may be exactly the candidate we want, but their values are clear. Knowing this, if we choose not to vote for the candidate who supports Biblical principals, we might as well vote for the one who does not.